The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-06-16

LNltliC ItOl'i 4ltA 4ttN'L III a h1Nll. IL
it were. Then she turned to Violet.
They were alone in the breakfast
room.
..Listenr' she said, her dark face
livid, her eyes flames.
The man YOU kept from me with
your lie was my lover long ago, in the
days when | was young, and a good
deal handsomer than you are now.
We were too poor to marry then, and
always since. But the day he was
here he had Just come into a fortune,
and was looking for me to tell me the
good news, and make me his wife.
He could not find me, and he has gone
home to France alone. | shall never
see him again, and | owe it to YOU
Violet burst into tears.
''Oh, forgive me- she said. Il am
so sorry, and I've been sorry ever
since | did it. Mamma Rome shall
give you money enough to follow him
to France, or she shall write to him
and tell him where you are. Won't
you forgive me, Miss Despard?"
Il viii never forgive YOU as long as
| live!" hissed EsteIle Your Mamma
Rome shall not write to him. | will
not 90 to him. / viii stay here till /
have hurt you-till | have hurt you as
much as | cam
Violet went to her adopted mother
at last and told her the whole story,
not sparing herself, and shedding
many tears.
Mrs. Rome, who could not endure to
see her pretty darling worried, prom
iSed to make all right with Estelle, and
tried to do so. But it was not qnite
so easy a matter.
Mr. Felix Esprie had written on the
eve of his departure. and directed it
TO an old address of Estelle's, whence,
by the merest chance, it had drifted to
her present one. 1t was a letter of
farewell and despair.
1T is of no USE" Miss Despard
said. He will 90 and marry Natalie
now. She is younger than | am, and
looks as 1 used to. He will never want
to see me again after he has once seen
her. Never mind.
And she tossed her head, and laughed
shrilly.
See here. Estelle, said Mrs. Rome.
little anXiously; you are not laying
up anything against Violet, | hope.
You must forgive her for her share in
this atfsir. OF course, she only meant
jest. She had no idea of any serious
consequences from her foolishness."
Forgive her?" said Miss Despard,
looking down to hide the blaze in her
eyes. "Oh, certainly 1t is nothing.
You see how little [ mind it, Mrs.
Rome"
Three months after Mrs. Rome died,
and was buried: and in due course of
time her will was called for, but could
not befound. Her lawyer testified to
the fact that he had drawn such
document. But where was it? With
out ii pretty petted Violet would be a
beggar, and the large property, which
it had always been supposed would
come to her at Mrs. Rone's death,
would 90 to a distant relative whom
the deceased lady had never even
seen.
1t was most unlikely that Mrs. Rome
had destroyed her will. There was 10
reason why she should have hidden it,
and she was too methodical a woman
to have mislaid it.
She had always kept it in a desk in
her own sitting-room-in a desk which
had belonged to her husband, but it
was not there now, nor anywhere else,
apparently.
The search had to be abandoned at
last, and Violet Earle found herself
face to face with starvation, or as good
as that, for she did not know how TO
do anything well enough to earn her
living by it. and she had no relatives
that she knew of.
In this strait Miss Despard, to every
body's astonishment, promptly came
forward.
Il have got few pounds saved, )"
she said; ''it was for my marriage;
but that will never be now | shall
hire some rooms and furnish them, and
take pupils in French and music. If
you would like to come with me, Violet
Earle, you may"
Violet shuddered and was silent.
Then, after little, she lifted her head,
and looked EsteIle Despard steadily in
the face.
You know I viii not, she said; !;
land you know why l will not"
"Oh, very we'll, said Miss Despard
tossing her head as usual, and laugh
ing her short, shrill laugh.
Violet went nearer.
'Where IS Mamma ROne's wiIl?"
she asked, in a low, stern voice. Have
you destroyed it?"
Up" exclaimed the Frenchwoman.
turning white; Il don't know what
you mean?'
You said you would hurt me if you
ever could. | believe YOU have de-
stroyed Mamma Roses will"
Miss Dcspard's black eyes sparkled.
She laughed deiantly.
You had better try to prove it."
Il cant prove it, and | shan't try, ;"
said Violet; but | believe YOU have
done it. | know you hate me-
The FrenchWoman cast down her
eyes. and drew In her lips.
You wronged me very much once,
Miss Earle, She said. .'and in my an
ger | may have said what | ought not:
but | forgive you. now you are in so
much trouble, and am sorry you
think | would touch the will | don't
know anything about it,"
Il am satisfied that YOU have de-
stroyed Mamma Rones Will as if l had
seen You do it. Violet said. slowly;
but perhaps it will be my turn
next
And so they parted, and Violet
Earle went out into the world to try
and earn her own living.
She was very brave at first. She
tried being companion. governess.
nursery -governess. She tried to teach
music, drawing, French, but failed
ANONYMOUSLY in all
=.
dresses, and all the costly fineries that
had pertained to her heiress-ship.
She grew poorer and poorer, till at
last hope and courage even failed her.
and she said, in her misery and des-
pair:
There is nothing left me but to
die"
One night she went to sell the last
thing of value that she possessed-a
small gold ring. her first Gift from her
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